Eagles make history with 5 out of 5 wins

Mansfield Eagles netballers made history on Saturday as all five teams won on the day for the first time since MFNC had five teams in the Goulburn Valley League. The 15 & Under side joined the club in 2018 and, while they have been mostly successful, appearing in grand finals and many finals series, the girls have never had all five teams win on the same day. A Grade By Sophie Bray Mansfield A Grade produced a dominant four-quarter performance against Kyabram on Saturday, securing an impressive 89–16 victory to continue their strong push towards finals. The defensive unit set the tone from the opening whistle, applying relentless pressure and forcing numerous turnovers. Their ability to read the play, contest every ball and limit Kyabram’s scoring opportunities was a key factor in keeping the opposition to just 16 goals for the match. Through the midcourt, Mansfield worked tirelessly to transition the ball from defence to attack. Strong defensive pressure, disciplined drives and smart decision-making ensured the Eagles maintained control of possession and created countless scoring opportunities. In the goal circle, Mansfield’s shooters were clinical, converting accurately and capitalising on the steady supply from the midcourt. Their movement and connection under the post proved difficult for Kyabram to contain, helping the side post its highest score of the season. It was a complete team performance from the Eagles, with every player contributing throughout the four quarters. The convincing win sees Mansfield move into fifth position on the ladder, placing the side in a strong position as the race for finals continues. Best on court: Lucy Ward Coach’s award: Abbie Barnes Players’ player: Lucy Ward B Grade By Ava Mahoney It was a fantastic day at home for the Mansfield Eagles, with all five senior and junior netball teams getting across the line against the Kyabram Bombers in a clean sweep that had plenty of excitement around the courts. With the sun shining and the home crowd behind them, the B Grade girls came out firing, slowly building a margin through strong ball protection and a willingness to pick up every loose ball. The Eagles took a 10–4 lead into quarter-time. The second quarter saw Mansfield continue to build on their strong start, cleaning up some simple errors and beginning to make their attacking plays work more effectively. The Eagles extended their lead to 22–6 by half-time. Mansfield continued much the same way after the main break, with the defensive end producing intercept after intercept and the attacking end doing a great job of converting those turnovers into goals. The Eagles took a commanding 32–13 lead at three-quarter time and, by maintaining the same high intensity all game, the final siren saw the Eagles celebrate a convincing 45–20 victory. The defensive end was made up of Grace Evans, Kirsty Norris and newcomer Eve. Through the midcourt, Ava Mahoney, Brianna Weight and Ellie Marks worked hard to provide plenty of drive and link-up play, while Tegan Hopkins, Charlotte Pople and Remy Stevenson featured through the shooting circle. There was plenty of versatility throughout the game, with Remy and Charlotte both contributing through the goals and midcourt, while Kirsty was also able to move between defence and goals as needed. Great work to all the Eagles on a great collective effort this weekend. B Reserve By Emma Edwards Mansfield B Reserve were eager for a win against Kyabram. Coming out strong and fast, we took the lead in the first quarter, but the scores started to level out, which made us work even harder than before. Our scores were even by the end of the second quarter. We went into the third quarter with a game plan, keeping our cool and working as a team. The scores were very close throughout the whole game, but we ended up pulling off an amazing 46–44 win. Our shooters were Maddie, Mitch and Issy, all working amazingly together. In the centre, we had Amy, Leonie, Mitch and Lilly. In defence, we had Emma, Alex and Steph. This game was tough but good, and we all put out on court what we have been working on at training. We were all so pleased with another win. It was a great day and, with only two more games left, we’re all soaking up the end of the season and having fun while doing it. Awards: Players’ player: Amy, sponsored by Il Salotto Coach’s award: Leonie, sponsored by Boutique Best on court: Maddie, sponsored by Mansfield Hotel 17 & Under By Charlee Bretherton The Under 17s girls went out hoping for redemption against the Kyabram Bombers on Saturday. The first quarter was very strong throughout the court; defensive pressure was amazing, timing and explosive drives really made an impact in the attacking end, and goal accuracy was high. Lots of tips and intercepts helped us gain a good lead on the opposition, also helping us put on one of our best performances as a team. This carried on until the final siren, leading the girls to a 14-point victory over Kyabram. It has been a pretty difficult season for us all, so it was amazing to see all our hard work and effort pay off. Best on court: Charlee Bretherton Coach’s award: Carly Desmond Players’ player: Harper Smith and Charlee Bretherton 15 & Under The 15 & Under Eagles had a great game against the Kyabram Bombers, coming away with a 58–24 win and cementing their place in the top six for finals. The Eagles started the game strongly, taking control and finishing the first quarter with a 13–6 lead. The girls continued to build on their lead throughout the second quarter, heading into half-time 28–11 ahead. The Eagles kept the pressure on in the third quarter, extending their lead to 44–17. The final quarter saw Mansfield continue their performance, finishing the game with a 58–24 win. It was a great team effort from the Eagles, and good to come away with a well-deserved win after a close game last round. Best on court: Lara Klingsporn Coach’s award: Emily Strong Players’ player: Olive Armsden